Epernay’s Top 10 of 2016
January 2, 20172016 has been quite the year for us here at Épernay Wine & Spirits. From stunning sunrises in ‘Sconset to stellar sunsets in Madaket, with lots of rosé, bubbles and cheese in between, we want to THANK YOU for your patronage and helping to make it such a successful year.
Below is a list of our Top 10 Highlights for 2016.
1. All Signs Point to Épernay
We love our brand new sign this year from our friend Bob and his team at Chatham Sign Shop in Chatham, MA!
2. “50 Shades of Rosé” Event
Co-hosted by the Sommelier Team of Épernay Wine & Spirits and The Nantucket Culinary Center, production of this event was also in partnership with Sarah Cowherd of Bespoke SRC Events and Party Provisioning. This summer, we explored everything Rosé with this tasting of almost 50 rosé wines from around the world from different grape varietals and winemaking techniques. From pale pinot noir saignées to classic grenache-based Provençal pinks to New World blends, we tasted the world of Rosés together, all while celebrating Nantucket’s Favorite Sip of Summer. Read the Rosé Recap here! <<<
3. SIP, SAVOR and SOCIALIZE with the Winemakers
PHOTO CREDIT: Katie Kaizer Photography | www.katiekaizerphotography.com
This year for the Nantucket Wine Fest, we had the opportunity to SIP, SAVOR & SOCIALIZE with not just one, but THREE of the top winemakers from the European Portfolio of the famed Frederick Wildman & Sons wine importer at the Nantucket Culinary Center. We stared the evening in the Champagne Lounge featuring the bubblies of Champagne Pol Roger, which just happened to be served at the Royal Wedding. We met the effervescent Christian Moreau, Grand Ambassador of Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils from Chablis, whose wines perfectly paired with local Nantucket oysters. We sipped the wines from one of Burgundy’s top ‘haute-couture’ family winemaking estates with Jean Soubeyrand, Wine Dreamer + CEO of Olivier Leflaive. The masterful Gregory Hecht, of the negociant maison Hecht & Bannier, featured his artfully blended wines from his boutique winery in the South of France. We took a vineyard tour through the picturesque landscape of Piedmont as we tasted the wines of Marchesi di Barolo. Oh, what a night! <<<
4. The Perfect Pairing with Wasik’s Cheese
We are proud and excited to be carrying Wasik’s Cheese at the wine shop this year. Using the multiple generations of experience to cultivate relationships and friendships in the specialty food industry, they are able to supply us with nothing but the best cheese the world has to offer. Wasik’s is one of the oldest full-service cheese counters in the country and has set the standard for serving the highest caliber of cheese in the industry. Located in Wellesley, MA, The Cheese Shop (known to locals just as Wasik’s) is on old-time family business that has been a specialist in ripening, selecting and serving quality cheeses since 1964. What a perfect pairing for us! <<<
5. Best of Wine Shop Award
We were honored to be named “Best Liquor/Wine Shop” on Nantucket according to the readers of Cape Cod Life magazine. We appreciate our customers and all of your support!
6. Watch Me Sip… My Chardonnay-nay
“Watch Me Sip, My CHARDONNAY-NAY! Watch me Sip. Sip. At ÉPERNAY-NAY.” <<<
This past June, we brought our best hip-hop dance moves and held our wine chalice high in the air to toast a Chardonnay taste-off! Old World Bop from Burgundy versus New World Whip from the West Coast, Julian Casey of Vineyard Road was our emcee for this ‘Superman of a Chardonnay’ Showcase Showdown.
7. SYLTBAR TASTING: Preserving Your Health with this Bubbly Elixir
Named after the isle of SYLT located just off the coast of Germany, we found out just how this premium sparkling wine brand from Italy ‘sets the bar’ as the measure of quality (and island inspired lifestyle) in its category. Owners Claus + Regina Blohm were in-store and poured a sparkling good time! <<<
8. Vintage Wine Yard Sale: Sommelier Selections at Garage Sale Prices
Everyone knows you can find great bargains at estate sales on Nantucket. This past Daffodil weekend event was a Nantucket favorite this year! Épernay Wine & Spirits in-house Sommeliers were on hand to open bottles for you to sample that were available at Garage Sale prices. Be sure to look for this event again in 2017! <<<
9. Nantucket Chamber “After Hours” with Demand Link
We love community and it shows with this event hosted together with the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce this year. At this event, we heard from Kim Horyn, Community Outreach Manager for Smart Power, a nonprofit organization dedicated to clean energy + energy efficiency. We learned about their partnership with National Grid and the new DemandLink Nantucket energy efficiency reduction campaign. Épernay Wine & Spirits showcased the new lighting upgrades they recently received by completing a FREE small business energy audit. Our Sommelier Team poured wines from eco-friendly, sustainable wineries of California.
10. Rosés for my BEACHES
There is no doubt that Nantucket has some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the world. Your favorite spots on the sand deserve a bottle of rosé wine in hand, resulting in the perfect summertime pairing. This summer, we paired some of our favorite Nantucket beaches with some of beautiful rosé offerings. Read the blog post here! <<<
We look forward to sharing with you what we will be sipping in 2017 ~ Happy New Year!
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